), Have stayed at Abigail's and while it's slightly away from the "center" it's a great place to stay and Victoria is also easily walkable. Quite possibly the best museum in British Columbia, arguably better than the best museums in Vancouver is the Royal BC Museum a must for any history buff. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). The main ferry from Vancouver to Victoria departs from the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal, located 37 kilometres South of downtown in the suburb of Tsawassen. After all this walking you are probably getting hungry! The drive from Victoria to Tofino straight through takes about 4.5 hours, but there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy along the way. However, I wasn't overly impressed nor did I end up taking any photos in this part of the island. Head to Vancouver's first, largest, and most beloved urban park: Stanley Park. Circling back to the Inner Harbour its time for a traditional Victoria activity: Tea at the Empress at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Even if cost isnt a major deterrent and getting to Victoria quickly is your primary concern the time savings will be negligible after you consider how long it takes to: Related: Plan the Perfect Vancouver to Victoria Day Trip. The crown jewel of Victorias park system, this 62 acre park located along the beautiful Juan de Fuca Strait is beautifully landscaped with lakes, ponds and gardens. Vancouver Itinerary Day 1 10 am - Stanley Park 2 pm - Granville Island 6 pm - Sunset Drinks at Sunset Beach 7 pm - Dinner (and More Drinks) on Granville Street Vancouver Itinerary Day 2 9 am - Robson Street to Main Street 10 am - Shopping, Beach Hopping & A Game 11 am - Grab a Bike and Head to the Beach 3 pm - Queen Elizabeth Park Day 4 - Ferry to Vancouver (BC Ferries), Stanley Park, Day 5 - Granville Island Public Market, Enjoy the city, Day 6 - Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Day 7 Travel from Vancouver to Seattle, Chateau St. Michelle Winery/Woodinville Wine Country, Day 8 Seattle or other nearby location, Flight home (11:00 p.m.). Smell the Roses at Butchart Gardens Victoria. Specializing in making the best sandwiches in the city, the grilled cheese is absolutely delicious. September 27, 2017. . The prices are also very competitive with normal flights, and including airport transfers can be up to three times faster. In Victoria the planes dock at the Victoria Harbour Airport Terminalin the Inner Harbour. The whole trip usually takes around 3 hours. Check out my interactive map with the best things to do, see, eat, drink, and where to stay in Vancouver.. Day 1: Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Kitsilano, and Beaches Start your 4 days in Vancouver with a hike in Pacific Spirit Regional Park or visiting one of Vancouver's excellent museums, followed by lunch and a stroll around Kitsilano, then . These two national historic sites in Victoria are located on the same site. davidgmg - Thanks for taking the time to respond. He led us around the building whilst sharing his life story and telling us more about the construction process. If you are traveling from Tsawwassen, the closest ferry port to Victoria is SwartzBay (about 30km north of Victoria). Be sure to check the Royal BC Museum website before visiting. Located in the Northern suburb of Sidney, Swartz Bay offers daily BC Ferries sailings to Vancouver and the Gulf Islands. For a complete list of flights from Vancouver to Victoria I suggest using Skyscanner. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi there, I'm Lotte! Drive Highway 4 for the two-hour journey across the island to Tofino, making a stop at Cathedral Grove. Theyve also got service from the Seaplane Terminal at YVRs South Terminal make sure you book the right terminal! There are three distinct areas in Victoria Old Town: A quick tip: pick up a free map of the historic area at the Visitor Center which contains lots of information about the Old Town and makes it easier to find the must-see historic buildings. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40495095', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Victoria. You should also know that the first monday in August is a holiday in BC ( August 6th this year) so the ferries and highways will be chock a block that weekend ( from the Thursday through the following Tuesday). Upon arrival at Swartz Bay collect your bags and follow the signs outside the terminal to the bus stop and board the. Most of the sites are clustered around Vancouver Harbour and connected via walkable stretches of road. Classic and off the beaten path itineraries. There are nice mid-range hotels as well, such as the Oswego Hotel (pictured below) and the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites. I really don't know anyone that would try to cram 3 or 4 cities involving islands and border crossings into a 7 day itinerary. With scenery so jaw-dropping you won't want to blink, relax and enjoy the voyage through Juan de Fuca Straight and the Gulf Islands. Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. So quick. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40492905', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver in the time frame that I have, but as I research more, I'm wondering if Victoria will be worth it. When you take the http://B.C.Ferry to from Victoria it takes about 3/1/2 hrs. I think Leavenworth may be too far out of the way. There are a couple of options for budget travelers as well, the Helms Inn and Red Lion Inn are well-reviewed affordable hotels in Victoria. In this floating village, you can admire the beautiful houseboats, explore quirky shops, and grab some lunch at one of the cute (floating) restaurants. Reply Subscribe . Check the website for more info about the current exhibitions. Looking for cruises from Vancouver to Victoria? Back in the 1890s the British Columbia government held an architectural competition. As with most of our one-day city itineraries, this Vancouver itinerary includes a lot of walking. Its close vicinity makes it a perfect side-trip for those already visiting Vancouver, but whats the best way to get from Vancouver to Victoria? We started in Seattle, Washington where we flew in specifically to start our road trip and took the ferries from the Anacortes port to Vancouver Island, BC. If you feel like burning off some calories after your sumptuous high tea, head to Beacon Hill Park for some of the best walking trails in Victoria. With the entire expanse of the Salish Sea standing in the way though, island residents will tell you that this distance can often feel much greater. The Steam Clock was built in 1977 and is the world's first steam-powered clock. Pacific Rim Adventure: Vancouver to Tofino - 7 Days Spend a week combining the urban highlights of Vancouver and Victoria. Part 1: Getting to Vancouver Island: Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. My husband and I will be traveling to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? August is prime tour season in the island.s. Find and plan your next cruise from Vancouver to Victoria on Cruise Critic. Should I visit Vancouver or Victoria in the Autumn? Furthermore, there are also a coffee shop, restaurant, and gift store (where you can buy lots of seeds!). Fun fact: this building was also designed by the presenting to be Canadian architect Francis Rattenbury! Follow me on my travels around the world with our family of four.Read more about us. Our hourly rate for full itinerary planning is $125, with a minimum planning fee of $495, which generally covers trips of up to a week in length with 2-3 destinations. Walk the Inner Harbour Pathways. Seattle/Washington Possibilities Inn at the Market? How long is the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria? Part 2: Swartz Bay and the Gulf Islands. In this great museum, you can learn about the history of British Columbia. Day 6 & 7 - Ucluelet and Tofino. A trip to Victoria wouldn't be complete without visiting the world-famous Butchart Gardens, an impressive result of a woman's passion and hard work who turned a closed limestone mine into a National Historic Site, where a selection of more than 800 flowers and plants have bloomed every year for the last 100 years. . How Long to Visit Vancouver and Victoria? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40495488', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');carhe enjoys driving and likes the flexibility of being able to do side trips if we want to. Hi Ash, we will be renting a car for self drive to Whistler-Jasper-Banff. In Beacon Hill Park you can find two playgrounds as well as a petting zoo! Day 4 - Ferry to Vancouver (BC Ferries), Stanley Park Day 5 - Granville Island Public Market, Enjoy the city Day 6 - Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge or Squamish/ Whistler Day 7 - Travel from Vancouver to Seattle, Chateau St. Michelle Winery/Woodinville Wine Country Youre going to want to try a special dog and its way better than you think it will be! Read these posts for more inspiration: Day 2: Canada Place/Digital Orca, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Stanley Park and Seawall, Gastown, Day 3: BC Ferry to Victoria, Butchart Gardens, Fishermans Wharf, Parliament, Day 4: BC Ferry to Vancouver, Kits Beach, Gastown. Victoria and Vancouver Island are a foodie's . There are ferries that run daily to the island's largest city of Victoria from both Port Angeles, Washington (located about two hours west of Seattle) and Vancouver, British Columbia . Vancouver Possibilities LHermitage Hotel? Pacific Northwest - Suggestions on Seattle-Vancouver-Victoria Island itinerary? Whether Victoria is "worth it" really depends on your interests and what you enjoy doing. With BC Ferries Connector you can effortlessly travel directly from downtown Vancouver to Victoria City Center. I enjoy hiking, but it's not my husband's favorite. Downtown Vancouver. A sailing takes about an hour and forty minutes. The most affordable tour service and/or accommodation with fast-paced itineraries. I don't think I can talk my husband out of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? After dinner at award-winning Araxi, spend the evening exploring the resort village. Vancouver Island 24-hour itineraries and other travel tips including a One Week in Vancouver Island guide and a One Day in Tofino guide. These convenient, all-inclusive Vancouver to Victoria bus tickets include both coach transport and ferry tickets all in one. Vancouver Island road trip map. Answered questions, like where the closest bus stop was to Stanley park. Victoria has an International Airport located about 20km from downtown. The tea is accompanied by freshly prepared scones and other pastries made with locally sourced ingredients. You can guarantee your seat on the BC Ferries Connector using the calendar below: For those wondering how to get to Victoria from downtown Vancouver via seaplane this is your answer. Part 4: Brentwood Bay. Not only does Victoria have more beautiful architecture, but it still has . How to Get Started on Your Vancouver Island Road Trip. All you have to do is purchase your ticket ($69.92) and show it on your smartphone 15 minutes before departure. Drive Highway 99 to Whistler, which takes around 90 minutes. From Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay it takes an hour and thirty five minutes. answered on 1/4/14 by a VT member from Lents It really depends quite a lot on what you are planning to do in each of these places. Press click here under book to see the latest prices on Booking and book ahead to get the best deal. Vancouver Island 1-Day Itineraries and Travel Tips: Tofino, Victoria, and More. A week-long road trip featuring British Columbia's Coast Mountains and. ). We also discuss how to get around Victoria, as well as other travel tips and advice. Victoria is on Vancouver Island. There are 5 different transportation options available to get you across the Gulf. Consider the Victoria City Passport This booklet offers savings for two adults and two kids . Board a #70 Express bus (should be outside waiting) and be in Downtown Victoria by lunchtime. Enjoy lunch at an outdoor caf in Ganges, then make the short ferry hop to Swartz Bay, gateway to Victoria and home to the centrally located Magnolia Hotel and Spa. It's one of those incredible places in Canada that has a buzzing city life but is also so close to the dramatic natural spots on the west coast. Discover Canada with our Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria & Alaska Cruise itinerary. Butchart Gardens is a must see garden oasis filled with over 55 acres of green space and lush blooms year round. While there are SO many places to stop and see along the way (check out all the cool . This itinerary balances a little bit of everything in Vancouver and Victoria: cities, mountains, and ocean. There are a few beach access points and hiking trails out of East Sooke Regional Park. Helijet operates from Vancouver's Waterfront and Vancouver International Airport and flies directly to the Victoria Harbour Heliport taking just 35 minutes, which is much quicker and more convenient than taking the ferry. Original Poster . Where to Stay in Vancouver? Anyway, not only did I laugh throughout the entire tour, but I also learned a lot about the building. While in Vancouver,we so enjoyed the location of L'Hermitage and the space of the unit. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-40492162', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Seattle to Victoria. For example, you could stay 3 nights in Victoria, 2 nights in Parksville and 2 nights in Telegraph Cove. Enquire Now . The staff there was friendly. If youre doing long distance rentals then I always recommend Enterprise as its got the best prices/customer service. We are tentatively planning this Day 1: Arrive at train station at 8. Hi, you will enjoy Abigails and (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Sitting on a peninsula to the north-west of the city, Stanley Park is almost completely surrounded by the waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay. 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